Metastable Helium Absorptions with 3D Hydrodynamics and Self-consistent Photochemistry. I. WASP-69b, Dimensionality, X-Ray and UV Flux Level, Spectral Types, and Flares

Abstract

The metastable helium (He*) lines near 10830 Å are ideal probes of atmospheric erosion—a common phenomenon of close-in exoplanet evolution. A handful of exoplanet observations yielded well-resolved He* absorption features in transits, yet they were mostly analyzed with 1D isothermal models prescribing mass-loss rates. This work devises 3D hydrodynamics coevolved with ray-tracing radiative transfer and nonequilibrium thermochemistry. Starting from the observed stellar/planetary properties with reasonable assumptions about the host's high-energy irradiation, we predict from first principles the mass-loss rate, the temperature and ionization profiles, and 3D outflow kinematics. Our simulations well reproduce the observed He* line profiles and light curves of WASP-69b. We further investigate the dependence of He* observables on simulation conditions and host radiation. The key findings are as follows: (1) Simulations reveal a photoevaporative outflow (~0.55 M_⊕ Gyr⁻¹ ≃ 10¹¹ g s⁻¹) for WASP-69b without a prominent comet-like tail, consistent with the symmetric transit shape. (2) 3D simulations are mandatory for hydrodynamic features, including Coriolis force, advection, and kinematic line broadening. (3) EUV (>13.6 eV) photons dominate photoevaporative outflows and populate He* via recombination; FUV is also detrimental by destroying He*; X-ray plays a secondary role. (4) K stars hit the sweet spot of EUV/far-UV balance for He* line observation, while G and M stars are also worthy targets. (5) Stellar flares create characteristic responses in the He* line profiles.

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